As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." - I Peter 4:10Today was our great adventure to the farm. Olya takes a group of 10 special needs kids to a farm WAAAAAYYYYY outside the city limits where there is a farmer that has agreed to allow her to use a mare one a week. We visited orphanage #34 to pick the children up this morning. They were such sweet kids, and Olya was right about the orphange conditions. It doesn't seem so terrible on a clear May morning, but imagine the place in Ukrainian winter and you'll understand what these kids endure. There is no heat in the outer buildings where they have PE and assembly. Olya says she has seen ice hanging inside the building when she has been there. Because these kids are special needs, they don't receive traditional education; instead they are taught a skill. The girls learn sewing and the boys learn carpentry. I visited both of their classrooms. There was no foundation built under the floors when the building was constructed over 100 years ago, so the floors are cracked and sagging. The ceiling is split and is starting to fall in. The girls work on outdated antique machines. No exaggeration, these are literally antiques - no electricity to many. The boys don't have enough tools and supplies. They often run out of wood. How can you have carpentry class without wood??? Craziness.

Olya has to hire a van driver to transport the kids each week and ours gets in a wreak on the way to pick us up. So we are stuck standing around, but it gives us time to explore the grounds and meet more kids. By the time a replacement driver gets there, the director is concerned about the kids going because they will miss their lunch. Okay guys, when you're going to be gone for awhile you just grab lunch out, right? Not so easy for these darlings who never get that priviledge. Of course, my American sensibilities says, "Olya, we could catch lunch on the way back. I'll treat!" She makes me go to ask the orphanage director who makes sure that I really want to do this. Are you kidding? Of course!!! I find out on the way back that Olya has to find some place that will even serve them. Olya knows the security guard at a cafeteria and they agree to serve us. The kids have to dine away from the crowd on the lower floor. Total cost for lunch for 10 kids and 2 adults? $25

So we get to this primitive farm and it so pitiful. And this wonderful old Ukrainian man named Nicoli welcomes all the children. It is amazing to watch the transformation on the faces of these kids who are nervous around this giant horse. By the end of our time, they are smiling and laughing.

After depositing the children back at the orphanage, we meet up with Dr. R at orphanage #88. This is another special needs facility. The place is clean but soooo dreary. I swear it must have an affect of the kids after awhile. We walk into one dark room where 3 boys are huddled around an old black and white television attempting to watch a show through the lines and snow. Dr. R asks the teacher what he can get for her classroom. She says the children could use some games and she could use a tape recorder for class activities. So what do we do? We hop back in the car and head to a local store where Santa Claus purchases 5 color televisions, VCR's, and a stock of childrens' movies (along with other stuff she asked for). I am helping Olya pick out the movies and I feel like a kid myself. "Ooohhh! Here's Finding Nemo! They have to see that! Ooohhh! Here's Monster's Inc.!" Want to guess the first movies I choose? Yeah, you guessed it: Peter Pan!!! You've got to have Peter Pan! I also picked out Chronicles of Narnia and a slew of others. As we're leaving the store I say, "Dr. R! What are we gonna buy next?!?" Its pathetic how happy it makes me! The televisions and other goodies will be delivered tomorrow. I wish I could be there to see their faces. I think the majority of supplies you guys sent will go to orphanages #34 and #88. These kids have so little.

So tomorrow we are going to two more orphanges: Baby House #3 and the Infant Hospital. I'm a little nervous about the last one. Olya says it traumaizes her when she goes. The Infant Hospital is where the abondoned little ones are sent. Yeah, people abandom 1 and 2 year olds. Then I am hoping we can go back to orphange #4 and reconnect with the kids there again. I missed seeing them today. As I missed seeing all of you! I love you and will talk to you again soon!